Prespelea carltoni Caterino & Vasquez-Velez

Caterino, Michael S. & Vasquez-Velez, Laura M., 2017, A revision of Prespelea Park (Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae), ZooKeys 685, pp. 105-130 : 114-116

Prespelea carltoni Caterino & Vasquez-Velez sp. n. Figs 17, 28, 40, Map 49

Type material.

Holotype male: NC: Haywood Co., GSMNP, Cataloochee Rough Ridge Tr., (lower), 306360E, 3940881N [35.5927°N, 83.1374°W], C. Carlton, 7/29/2002, moist berlese (LSAM0092266; DNA Extract MSC-2411); deposited in FMNH. Paratypes (3): 1 male same data as type (LSAM0092265); 1 male: NC: Haywood Co., GSMNP, Cataloochee Rough Ridge Tr., (upper), 305891E, 39040519N [35.5894°N, 83.1415°W], C. Carlton, 7/29/2002, moist berlese (LSAM0060036); 1 male: NC: Jackson Co., Blue Ridge Parkway, nr. Grassy Ridge Mine [35.41°N, 83.05°W], 1520m, A. Smetana (CNC Coleoptera Barcode Voucher 00162876). Other material: Two other males (not dissected) from GSMNP, in Cocke Co., TN; for full details see Suppl. material 1.

Diagnosis.

Distinguishable from P. quirsfeldi only by the following characters of the male: metaventral process, broad, elevated, somewhat blunt at middle, with acute distal margins limited to lateral corners, slightly concave behind; metatrochanter with hook broad and basal. Antennae varied, antennomeres 9 and 10 distinctly transverse in some individuals, more equilateral in others. Tegmen tapering from near base to near apex, abruptly widened and bifurcate at apex, with apical corners subacute; apicodorsal ridges moderate, apical foramen broadly open; internal sac without distinct sclerotizations. TL 1.76-1.96mm; Max. width (EW) 0.45-0.49mm.

Distribution.

This species is only known from a few localities within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Remarks.

This species is most distinctive in its male metatrochanteral process, which is basal and broad. It shows some minor variability in the shape of the metaventral process, which may be weakly emarginate apically or not. Despite an attempted DNA extraction from an older mounted specimen, we have not been successful in generating a sequence for this species.

We name this species for Dr. Chris Carlton of the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum, who collected the types, and who has led efforts to document the beetle fauna of the Smoky Mountains.